Method for simplifying the exchange of a sim card of subscribers of a digital mobile communications network

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for simplifying the exchange of a SIM card of subscribers of a digital mobile communications network. According to the invention, the subscriber disposes of an old active SIM card and of a new inactive SIM card for use in a mobile terminal. The invention provides that the proper activation of the new SIM card and deactivation of the old SIM card are carried out while in dialog with the subscriber via a migration server connected to the mobile communications network.

The invention relates to a method for the simplified exchange of an SIMcard at the subscribers of a digital mobile communication network.

During the introduction of new mobile radio products and mobile radioservices by a mobile radio provider, it is often helpful or evenrequired to replace the subscriber identity module (SIM card) in thecase of existing clients. With a client base of several millionsubscribers this represents a considerable problem of logistics, sinceit is necessary to ensure that each subscriber receives his personalizedSIM card and only one card per subscriber, i.e. either the “old” or the“new”, is activated.

Up to now there is no known method which permits the simple exchange ofthe SIM card in mobile communication networks. To prevent misuse, it isnecessary that the client either personally picks up his new card at themobile radio provider's location or exchanges the old card against a newone or, after having received the card by mail, confirms its receipt inwriting. The old card can subsequently be deactivated and the new onecan be activated. In contrast to bank cards, it is absolutely necessaryto prevent that both cards are simultaneously active in the mobilecommunication network. The process employed up to now is manual and, dueto the costs incurred, unsuitable for the mass migration of existingcustomers.

The invention addresses the problem of proposing a method for thesimplified exchange of an SIM card at the subscribers of a digitalmobile communication network, which requires minimum logisticsexpenditures for the network operator as well as also the subscriber.

This problem is solved according to the invention through thecharacteristics of patent claim 1.

The invention provides that the correct activation of the new SIM cardand the deactivation of the old SIM card is carried out in dialog withthe subscriber through a migration server connected to the mobilecommunication network. In a preferred procedural approach thetransmission takes place of a message with given content from the mobileterminal device to the migration server utilizing the old SIM card;activation of the new SIM card through the migration server;notification of the subscriber, preferably via the mobile terminaldevice, that the new SIM card can be exchanged against the old one; theexchange of the SIM card in the mobile terminal device by thesubscriber; and the deactivation of the old SIM card by the migrationserver as soon as the subscriber initially logs into the mobilecommunication network with the new SIM card.

The advantages of the method according to the invention are obvious.

-   -   It involves an automated process    -   Misuse of the SIM cards is virtually excluded    -   Subscribers can determine themselves when switching to the new        card is to take place    -   Mass market migration becomes possible    -   From the point of view of the subscriber the method is simple,        i.e. a low level of customer service support is to be expected    -   A “sliding” migration is possible, which means peak loads in the        network and the customer administration can be avoided    -   The proposed server solution is scalable    -   The proposed server solution minimizes expenditures in the        network.

In order to ensure that the subscriber has received his personalized newSIM card, he must confirm with certainty the receipt of the new SIMcard. The exchange of the message between mobile terminal device andmigration server preferably takes place by means of short messages(SMS). However, other methods can also be employed, such as for examplee-mail, voice input etc. A further advantage of the invention is thatthe exchange of the SIM cards can occur at a point in time which isfreely selectable by the subscriber. Only after the change of the SIMcards and the initial log-in into the mobile communication network isthe old card deactivated.

It can moreover be provided that the migration server queries personaldata of the subscriber residing on the old SIM card, intermediatelystores them and transfers them onto the new SIM card during the initiallog-in with this new card. These personal data can, for example, be theelectronic telephone book of the subscriber. During the initial log-inwith the new SIM card, the subscriber can preferably via his terminaldevice be informed with respect to the procedure to follow with the oldSIM card.

In the following in conjunction with FIG. 1 of the drawing the methodaccording to the invention and the tasks of the SIM card migrationserver will be explained more precisely. Based on the drawing and itsdescription further characteristics and advantages of the invention areevident.

Step 1 of the method:

The new SIM card 8 already personalized but not yet enabled in themobile communication network 11 is sent to the subscriber 10 for exampletogether with the monthly billing statement 9 by the billing center 7.In the same mail (packet) the subscriber 10 receives detailedinformation regarding the additional features accessible to him with hisnew SIM card 8. He is further informed that he must confirm receipt ofthe SIM card 8 by means of, for example, an SMS at a freely selectablepoint in time.

Step 2 of the method:

With his old SIM card in the terminal device, the subscriber 10 sends anSMS or the like with predetermined content, for example “AcknowledgeReceipt SIM” to the SIM card migration server 12 connected to the mobilecommunication network 11.

Step 3 of the method:

The SIM card migration server 12 activates the new SIM card 8 in network11, i.e. the new SIM card is enabled and thereby recognized and acceptedduring the log-in from the mobile communication network. Now themigration server 12 can also optionally query and store data stored bythe subscriber 10 on the old card, such as the telephone book.

[sic: Step 4 of the method:]

The SIM card migration server 12 informs the subscriber that startingforthwith he can exchange the SIM card 8.

Step 5 of the method:

The subscriber 10 exchanges the SIM card 8 in his terminal device.

Step 6 of the method:

As soon as the subscriber 10 logs into the network 11 for the first timeusing his new SIM card 8, the HLR (home location register) 13 informsthe SIM card migration server 12 (Step 6a), which thereupon deactivatesthe old SIM card (Step 6b). The notification of the server 12 canoptionally also take place from the terminal device 10 for example viaan SIM toolkit application.

If in Step 3 the personal data stored by subscriber 10 on the old SIMcard have been saved, these can now be transferred to the new SIM card8. The subscriber furthermore can now again be informed again withrespect to the procedure to follow with the old card.

DRAWING LEGEND

-   1 Method step-   2 Method step-   3 Method step-   4 Method step-   5 Method step-   6 Method step 6a, 6b-   7 Billing Center (BC)-   8 SIM card-   9 Billing statement-   10 Subscriber (terminal device)-   11 Mobile communication network-   12 SIM migration server-   13 Home data base (HLR—home location register)

1. Method for the simplified exchange of an SIM card at the subscribersof a digital mobile communication network, where the subscriber has athis disposal an old active SIM card and a new inactive SIM card foroperation in a mobile terminal device, characterized in that the correctactivation of the new SIM card (8) and deactivation of the old SIM cardis carried out in dialog with the subscriber (10) through a migrationserver (12) connected to the mobile communication network (11). 2.Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the steps: sending amessage with given content from the mobile terminal device (10) to themigration server (12) utilizing the old SIM card; activating the new SIMcard (8) through the migration server (12); notifying the subscriber(10) that the new SIM card (8) can be exchanged against the old card;exchanging the SIM card (8) in the mobile terminal device, anddeactivating the old SIM card through the migration server (12) as soonas the subscriber logs for the first time with the new SIM card (8) intothe mobile communication network (11).
 3. Method as claimed in claim 1or 2, characterized in that the new SIM card (8) is only activated afterits receipt has been confirmed with certainty by the subscriber. 4.Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that the message is an SMS or an e-mail message. 5.Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that the exchange of the SIM card (8) can take place ata point in time freely selectable by the subscriber.
 6. Method asclaimed in one or several of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe migration server (12) queries personal data of the subscriberresiding on the old SIM card, intermediately stores them and, during theinitial log-in with the new SIM card (8), transfers these onto it. 7.Method as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims,characterized in that the subscriber receives over his terminal device(10) information about the procedure to follow with the old SIM card.